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Brazil: a potent mix of silk and steel

Once again the tournament favourites, the rejuvenated South American side combines enormous flair with pragmatism

Duncan Castles

November 8 2009, 12:00am, The Sunday Times

With a large black crucifix dominating a white background, the front page of O Globo's sport section was unequivocal. "Dunga's Selecao 2006-2008: Brazilian football, winner of five World Cups, communicates the death of Dunga's national team in Beijing, China. The Seventh-Day Mass will take place on Friday, 8 o'clock, in Shanghai Stadium. Please, do not send flowers."

Fifteen months on and the deceased is in embarrassingly rude health. No longer the inflexible novice of public disdain, Dunga is established as the unquestioned leader of a team who won 11 straight matches between April and September, the Olympic semi-final loss to Argentina that provoked notice of his demise exchanged for the 3-1 away vengeance that secured Brazil's place at the World Cup finals.